Buckle

ABSTRACT

A buckle that includes a catch, a buckle housing and at least one pawl is provided. The catch has a manipulation end and a lead end. The lead end has at least one shoulder that has at least one tooth. The at least one pawl has a manipulation portion and an engaging portion. The manipulation portion is configured and arranged to allow a manipulation force to rotate the at least one pawl in relation to the buckle housing. The engaging portion of the at least one pawl includes an engaging edge configured and arranged to selectively engage the at least one shoulder of the catch. The engaging edge includes at least one notch. Moreover, the at least one tooth of the at least one shoulder of the catch is selectively received in the at least one notch of the engaging edge of the at least one pawl.

BACKGROUND

Buckles are well known in the art and prevalent in a variety ofapplications. One application in which buckles are used is to connectstraps in fall-arrest harnesses worn by persons who work at dangerousheights. It is imperative in this type of application that the bucklesdo not inadvertently disconnect.

For the reasons stated above and for other reasons stated below whichwill become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading andunderstanding the present specification, there is a need in the art foran improved and effective buckle with enhanced inadvertent disconnectprotection.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The above-mentioned problems of current systems are addressed byembodiments of the present invention and will be understood by readingand studying the following specification. The following summary is madeby way of example and not by way of limitation. It is merely provided toaid the reader in understanding some of the aspects of the invention.

In one embodiment, a buckle is provided. The buckle includes a catch, abuckle housing, at least one pawl and a biasing member. The catch has amanipulation end and a lead end opposite the manipulation end. The leadend has at least one shoulder that has at least one tooth. The at leastone pawl is rotationally coupled to the buckle housing. The at least onepawl has a manipulation portion and an engaging portion. Themanipulation portion is configured and arranged to allow a manipulationforce to rotate the at least one pawl in relation to the buckle housing.The engaging portion of the at least one pawl includes an engaging edgeconfigured and arranged to selectively engage the at least one shoulderof the catch. The engaging edge includes at least one notch. Moreover,the at least one tooth of the at least one shoulder of the catch isselectively received in the at least one notch of the engaging edge ofthe at least one pawl. The at least one biasing member is configured toexert a biasing force on the at least one pawl to engage the engagingedge of the at least one pawl with the at least one shoulder of the atleast one catch.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention can be more easily understood and furtheradvantages and uses thereof more readily apparent, when considered inview of the detailed description and the following figures in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded side perspective view of a buckle of the priorart;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the buckle of FIG. 1 with the catchdisconnected from the housing;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the buckle of FIG. 1 with the catch of thebuckle engaged by the housing;

FIG. 4 is a front view of a plate of a buckle of the housing of thebuckle of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a front view of a buckle of another embodiment of the priorart with the catch disconnected from the housing;

FIG. 6A is a front perspective view of yet another embodiment of abuckle of the prior art;

FIG. 6B is an exploded front perspective view of the buckle of FIG. 6A;

FIG. 7A is a front view of a partial buckle housing and catch of abuckle of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7B is a front perspective view of the partial buckle housing andcatch of FIG. 7A;

FIG. 7C is a front view of the partial buckle housing and catch of FIG.7A with the catch disconnected from the partial buckle housing; and

FIG. 7D is a front perspective view of another embodiment of a partialbuckle housing and catch of the present invention.

In accordance with common practice, the various described features arenot drawn to scale but are drawn to emphasize specific features relevantto the present invention. Reference characters denote like elementsthroughout Figures and text.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shownby way of illustration specific embodiments in which the inventions maybe practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail toenable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is tobe understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical,mechanical and electrical changes may be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the present invention. The following detaileddescription is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and thescope of the present invention is defined only by the claims andequivalents thereof.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a buckle with enhancedinadvertent unlocking protection abilities to prevent an inadvertentreleasing of a catch from a buckle housing of a buckle. An examplebuckle 100 of the prior art is illustrated in FIG. 1. Buckle 100generally includes a first member or buckle housing 101 and a secondmember or catch 170. In operation, a first harness strap is secured tothe housing 101 in a manner already known in the art, and a secondharness strap is secured to the catch 170 also in a manner already knownin the art. The catch 170 is releasably latched to the housing 101 inorder to releasably connect the two harness straps to one another.

The housing 101 in this embodiment includes first and second outerplates 111 and 112. In one embodiment the first and second outer plates111 and 112 are made identical to one another for purposes ofmanufacturing efficiency. At least one intermediate plate 130 issandwiched between the outer plates 111 and 112. The outer plates 111and 112 are made of steel in one embodiment, and further in oneembodiment, the at least one intermediate plate 130 is made of nylonplastic. Four registration pegs 137 project outward from each side ofthe intermediate plate(s) 130 and align with respective registrationholes 117 in a respective outer plate 111 or 112. An elliptical boss 131may also be provided on each side of the at least one intermediate plate130 to align with similarly shaped openings 113 in respective outerplates 111 and 112. Rivets 123 extend through respective holes 103 inone outer plate 111, then through respective holes 133 in theintermediate plate(s) 130, and then through respective holes 103 in theother outer plate 112.

The housing 101 includes a buckle slide 140 that is preferably made ofsteel and has a cylindrical middle portion 144 and flat ends 141. Asshown in FIG. 4, the at least one intermediate plate 130 has a centralopening 134 that is sized and configured to accommodate the entire slide140. Also, each of the outer plates 111 and 112 has a relatively smallerrectangular opening 114 that is sized and configured to accommodate themiddle portion 144 of the slide 140. The thickness of the intermediateplate(s) 130 is greater than the thickness of the ends 141, so the ends141 of the slide 140 are movably retained between the outer plates 111and 112. The slide bar 140 cooperates with the openings 114 in theplates 111 and 112 to retain the end of a harness strap. The middleportion 144 may be knurled to increase friction between the bar 140 andthe strap.

The at least one intermediate plate 130 also has opposing slots 136 thatare sized and configured to accommodate respective springs 160 (orbiasing members) between the outer plates 111 and 112. The springs 160are helical coils that are compressed between respective end walls ofrespective slots 136, and respective bearing surfaces on respectivepawls 158 and 159. Rivets 122 extend through respective holes 102 in oneouter plate 111, then through respective holes 152 in respective pawls158 and 159, and then through respective holes 102 in the other outerplate 112. The pawls 158 and 159 are preferably made of steel and sizedto be thinner than the intermediate plate(s) 130. As a result, the pawls158 and 159 are pivotally mounted between the outer plates 111 and 112.

The pawls 158 and 159 have respective latching portions (or engagingportions) that are biased toward one another by respective springs 160.This inward pivoting of the pawls 158 and 159 is limited by contactbetween the pawls 158 and 159 and respective portions of theintermediate plate(s) 130. The pawls 158 and 159 also have respectiveforce receiving portions (or manipulation portions) that project awayfrom one another and outward beyond the perimeter of the outer plates111 and 112. These manipulation portions or “wings” define bearingsurfaces that face away from the catch 170 and in divergent fashionrelative to one another.

The housing 101 has a receiving end 107 that is sized and configured toreceive the catch 170. A lead end 171 of the catch 170 is configured forinsertion into the housing 101 and between the pawls 158 and 159. Morespecifically, this lead end 171 of the catch 170 may be described asgenerally T-shaped, with recessed edges or shoulders 175 on oppositesides thereof. As the end 171 is inserted into the housing 101, itpushes the latching portions of the pawls 158 and 159 away from oneanother. Upon continued insertion of the end 171, the pawls 158 and 159encounter the recessed edges 175 of the catch 170 and snap back towardone another (and behind the forwardmost portion of the catch 170). Asshown in FIG. 3, inspection openings or windows 119 in the outer plates111 and 112 allow a person to visually confirm that the pawls 158 and159 have snapped into engagement with the catch 170. The catch 170cannot thereafter by removed from the housing 101 unless both pawls 158and 159 are rotated to respective “releasing” orientations. An oppositeend of the catch 170 is provided with a slot 177 for purposes ofretaining the end of a harness strap.

As a person uses his/her thumb and forefinger to urge respectivemanipulation portions of the pawls 158 and 159 away from the tab 132,the thumb and forefinger thereafter encounter the relatively widerportion (engaging end) of the catch 170 upon release of the catch 170from the housing 101. This transitional arrangement facilitates bothunlatching and removal of the catch 170 in one continuous motion. Inembodiments, additional features are added to ensure the pawls 158 and159 are not inadvertently rotated into their releasing orientations.

FIG. 5 illustrates another example buckle 200 of the prior art. Buckle200 includes an identical catch 170 that is selectively latched betweensimilar pawls 258 and 259 on an alternative housing 201. The housing 201similarly includes at least one intermediate plate secured between firstand second outer plates by means of rivets 222 and 223 (and registrationpegs 237). Both the pawls 258 and 259 and a slide bar 240 are movablyretained between the outer plates. Each of the outer plates on thehousing 201 has an end opposite the catch 170 that is bounded by aconcave edge, thereby defining a notch. The at least one intermediateplate has a “grippable” portion or tab 232 that spans the notch, andopposite facing sides of the tab 232 are bounded by an arcuate,peripheral ridge 231 that facilitates grasping of the housing 101.Further discussion of buckle 100 and 200 can be found in commonlyassigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,668,434, issued Dec. 30, 2003, entitled“Harness Buckle and Method of Making the Same” which is hereinincorporated in its entirety by reference.

Yet another example buckle 600 of the prior art is illustrated in FIG.6A. In FIG. 6A, a front assembled view of a buckle is 600 illustrated.The buckle includes a buckle housing 601 and a catch 620. The bucklehousing 601 includes a first plate 602 and a second plate 604. The firstplate 602 is coupled to the second plate 604 via rivets 606. A slide 608is coupled between the first and second plates 602 and 604. Moreover,openings in the first and second plates 602 and 604, such as opening 630of the first plate 602, allow for access of the slide 608. Sandwichedbetween the first plate 602 and the second plate 604 are pawls 610A and610B that make up a connecting portion of the buckle 600. The pawls 610Aand 610B engage shoulder portions 624A and 624B near an engaging end 626of a catch 620 to lock the catch 620 in the buckle housing 601. Inparticular, the engaging portion 626 (or “lead” end) of the catch 620becomes engaged with the pawls when the lead end 626 is inserted in anopening 627 in the buckle housing 601 that is between the pawls 610A and610B and the plates 602 and 604. The catch 620 further has amanipulation end 621 that is opposite the lead end 626. In this example,the buckle housing 600 includes a cam knob 612 that is used to move alocking plate 616 to selectively engage a strap (not shown in thisFigure) on the slide 608. The cam knob 612 can be rotated between alocked and an unlocked position. The rotation of the cam knob 612 iscontained within stops 614A and 614B.

In FIG. 6B, an exploded front perspective view of the buckle housing 601is illustrated. As illustrated, the first plate 602 includes opening 630as discussed above. Opening 630 is rectangular in shape. The secondplate 604 also includes a rectangular opening 512. The slide 608 has acylindrical mid portion 513 around which a strap or webbing) (not shown)is engaged. The slide 608 further has a first end 514A and a second end514B. As illustrated, the first end and the second end 514A and 514Beach include flat surfaces that abut inner surfaces of the first andsecond plates 602 and 604 when the first and second plates 602 and 604are coupled together. This arrangement slidably retains the slide 608within plates 602 and 604 of the buckle 600. The cylindrical mid portion513 of the slide 608 is received in the openings 630 and 512 of therespective first and second plates 602 and 512. In one embodiment thesurface of cylindrical mid portion 513 of the slide 608 has knurling(not shown) to increase friction.

The pawls 610A and 610B are pivotally coupled between the first plate602 and the second plate 604 via rivets 606. Biasing members 504A and504B bias the respective pawls 610A and 610B to a select pivotrotational position that engages catch 620 when the catch 620 isinserted in the opening 627 between the pawls 610A and 610B of thebuckle housing 601. In the embodiment of FIG. 6B, the locking member 616is generally L-shaped having a first portion 532 and a second portion534. The first portion 532 of the locking member 616 has a generallyoval shaped passage 530. A first side 521 of the first plate 602 has arecess 502 shaped to receive the first portion 532 of the locking member616. The second portion 534 of the locking member 616 fits in opening630 of the first plate 602. The cam knob 612 includes an activationportion 552 and a retaining portion 550. The retaining portion 550extends from the activation portion 552 of the cam knob 612 asillustrated. The first plate 602 of the buckle 600 includes a retainingaperture 503 that is in recess 502. The retaining portion 550 of the camknob 612 extends through retaining aperture 603 of the first plate 502.A fastener 518 engages the retaining portion 550 of the cam knob 612 toretain the cam knob 612 in the buckle housing 601. Other types offastener systems are contemplated, such as but not limited to,threadably engaging systems. The activation portion 552 of the cam knob612 is received in the oval shaped passage 530 of the locking member616. Rotation of the cam knob 612 causes the activation portion 552(which is also generally oval in shape in one embodiment) to engage thegenerally oval shaped passage 530 of the locking member 616 to move thelocking member 616 in relation to the first plate 602. Furtherdiscussion of example buckle 600 and the locking member 616 can be foundin the commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/414,364filed on Mar. 30, 2009 entitled “Buckle” that is herein incorporated inits entirety by reference.

FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C illustrate a partial buckle housing 700 and a catch702 of one embodiment of the present invention. The catch 702 in thisembodiment includes a manipulation end 702 a, a lead end 702 d and amid-section 702 c that extends between the manipulation end 702 a andthe lead end 702 d. The manipulation end 702 a of the catch 702 includesa catch slot 702 b that is designed to engage a strap (not shown). Thelead end 702 d includes a first shoulder 702 g and second shoulder 702h. Extending from the first shoulder 702 g is a first tooth 702 e.Extending from the second shoulder 702 h is a second tooth 702 f. Asillustrated in FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C, the first and second teeth 702 e and702 f extend in a direction toward the manipulation end of the catch 702a.

The partial buckle housing 700 includes two spaced pawls 710 and 720,the pawls 710 and 720 are rotationally coupled to buckle plate 704. Inparticular the first and second pawls 710 and 720 are coupled to buckleplate 704 by rivets 714. The first pawl 710 includes a manipulationportion 710 a that allows for a manipulation force to rotate the firstpawl 710 about a rivet connection 714 a. The first pawl 710 furtherincludes a mid-portion 710 b about which rivet connection 714 a islocated. The first pawl 710 further includes an engaging portion 710 c.Engaging portion 710 c includes a first engaging edge 710 g that isdesigned to engage the first shoulder 702 g of the catch 702. Further,the first engaging edge 710 g of the first pawl 710 includes a notch 710e that is designed to receive the tooth 702 e of the catch 702. Pawl 710further includes a biasing slot 710 d that is designed to receive afirst end of a biasing member 712 a.

The second pawl includes a manipulation portion 720 a that is designedto allow a manipulation force to rotate pawl 720 about rivet 714. Thesecond pawl 720 further includes a mid-portion 720 b. A rivet connection714 b is located about the mid-portion 720 b. The second pawl 720further includes an engaging portion 720 c that has a second engagingedge 720 g that is configured to engage the second shoulder 720 h of thecatch 720. The second engaging edge 720 g of the second pawl 720includes a second notch 720 e that is configured to receive the secondtooth 702 f of the catch 702. The engaging portion 720 c of the secondpawl 720 further includes a second slot 720 d configured to receive afirst end of a biasing member 712 b.

The first biasing member 712 a includes a second end that abuts aportion of the buckle plate 704 to assert a biasing force on theengaging portion 710 c of the first pawl 710. Likewise the secondbiasing member 712 b has a second end that abuts a surface of buckleplate 704 to assert a biasing force on the engaging portion 720 c of thesecond pawl such that the engaging portion 710 c of the first pawl 710and the engaging portion 720 c of the second pawl 720 have biasingforces that push the engaging portions 710 c and 720 c towards eachother to engage the lead end 702 d of the catch 702. When the lead end702 d of the catch 702 is engaged with the engaging portion 710 c of thefirst pawl and the engaging portion 720 c of the second pawl 720, therespective first and second teeth 702 e and 702 f are received in therespective notches 710 e and 720 e of the first and second pawls 710 and720. This arrangement helps prevent the inadvertent disengagement of thecatch 702 from the buckle when only one manipulation portion 710 a or720 a of one respective first or second pawl 710 or 720 is engaged.Hence if only one manipulation portion 710 a or 720 a of the respectivefirst and second pawls has a manipulation force asserted on it, thecatch 702 will not disengage from the buckle. Further in thisembodiment, the catch must first be pushed inward into a buckle housingcontaining pawls 710 and 714 for the teeth 702 e and 702 f of the catch702 to disengage from the respective grooves 710 e and 720 e of thepawls 710 and 720 before manipulation forces on the manipulationportions 710 a and 720 a of the pawls 710 and 720 can rotate to allowthe catch 702 to be removed from the buckle housing. Also illustrated inFIG. 7A is a slide 706 that is received in an opening 708 of the plate704.

FIG. 7D further illustrates another embodiment of a catch 702 coupledwith pawls 710 and 720 that are pivotally coupled to buckle plate 730.Buckle plate 730 in this embodiment extends beyond the manipulationportions 710 a and 720 a of the first and second pawls 710 and 720. Thisrestricts access to the manipulation portions 710 a and 720 a of therespective pawls 710 and 720 to help prevent inadvertent manipulation ofmanipulation portions 710 a and 720 b. As discussed above, embodimentsof the present invention help prevent pawls of a buckle from beinginadvertently rotated into their releasing orientations.

The partial buckle housing 700 illustrated in FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C aswell as the buckle plate 730 in FIG. 7D are implemented into the bucklehousings as described above. The buckle housings along with a catch forma buckle. Hence, buckles 100, 200 and 600 can implement pawls 710 and720 and catch 702 as described above to create a buckle with enhancedinadvertent unlocking protection abilities. For example, pawls 710 and720 and catch 702 of FIGS. 7A through 7D can be implemented in buckle100 by replacing pawls 158 and 159 and catch 170 and in buckle 600 byreplacing pawls 610 a and 610 b and catch 620. Further, in an embodimentthat reduces the access to the manipulation portion of the pawls, buckleplate 730 of FIG. 7D can replace plate 112 of FIG. 1 and plate 604 ofFIG. 6B to implement this feature in the Buckles 100 and 600.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and describedherein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the artthat any arrangement, which is calculated to achieve the same purpose,may be substituted for the specific embodiment shown. This applicationis intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the presentinvention. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that this invention belimited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.

1. A buckle comprising: a catch having a manipulation end and a lead end opposite the manipulation end, the lead end having at least one shoulder, the at least one shoulder having at least one tooth; a buckle housing; at least one pawl rotationally coupled to the buckle housing, the at least one pawl having a manipulation portion and an engaging portion, the manipulation portion configured and arranged to allow a manipulation force to rotate the at least one pawl in relation to the buckle housing, the engaging portion of the at least one pawl including an engaging edge configured and arranged to selectively engage the at least one shoulder of the catch, the engaging edge including at least one notch, the at least one tooth of the at least one shoulder of the catch selectively received in the at least one notch of the engaging edge of the at least one pawl; and at least one biasing member configured to exert a biasing force on the at least one pawl to engage the engaging edge of the at least one pawl with the at least one shoulder of the at least one catch.
 2. The buckle of claim 1, wherein the at least one pawl includes a biasing slot configured and arranged to receive an end of the biasing member.
 3. The buckle of claim 1, wherein the at least one tooth of the at least one shoulder extends from the at least one shoulder in a direction toward the manipulation end of the catch.
 4. The buckle of claim 1, wherein the at least one pawl and the at least one biasing member are configured and arranged to retain the lead end of the catch within the buckle housing.
 5. The buckle of claim 1, wherein the buckle housing further comprise: at least one plate, the at least one pawl coupled to the at least one plate.
 6. The buckle of claim 5, wherein the at least one plate restricts access to the manipulation portion of the pawl.
 7. The buckle of claim 1, wherein the manipulation end of the catch further includes a catch slot configured and arranged to receive a strap.
 8. The buckle of claim 1, further comprising: a slide movably coupled within an opening of the housing of the buckle to receive a strap.
 9. The buckle of claim 8, further comprising: a locking member configured and arranged to lock the strap on the slide.
 10. A buckle comprising: a buckle housing; a first pawl rotationally coupled to the buckle housing, the first pawl having a first manipulation portion and a first engaging portion, the first manipulation portion configured and arranged to allow a manipulation force to rotate the first pawl in relation to the buckle housing, the first engaging portion of the first pawl including a first engaging edge configured and arranged to selectively engage a first shoulder on a lead end of a catch, the first engaging edge of the first pawl including a first notch configured and arranged to receive a first tooth on the first shoulder of the catch; a second pawl rotationally coupled to the buckle housing a spaced distance from the first pawl, the second pawl having a second manipulation portion and a second engaging portion, the second manipulation portion configured and arranged to allow a force to rotate the second pawl in relation to the buckle housing, the second engaging portion of the second pawl including a second engaging edge configured and arranged to selectively engage a second shoulder on the lead end of the catch, the second engaging edge of the second pawl including a second notch configured and arranged to receive a second tooth on the second shoulder of the catch; a first biasing member configured and arranged to exert a force on the first pawl to engage the first engaging portion of the first pawl on the first shoulder of the catch; and a second biasing member configured and arranged to exert a force on the second pawl to engage the second engaging portion of the second pawl on the second shoulder of the catch, wherein both first and second manipulation portions of the first and second pawls are simultaneously manipulated to release the first and second engaging portions of the first and second pawls from the first and second shoulders of the catch.
 11. The buckle of claim 10, further comprising: the first pawl having a first biasing slot configured to receive an end of the first biasing member; and the second pawl having a second biasing slot configured to receive an end of the second biasing member.
 12. The buckle of claim 10, wherein the buckle housing includes at least one plate.
 13. The buckle of claim 12, wherein the at least one plate restricts access to the first and second manipulation portions of the first and second pawls.
 14. The buckle of claim 10, further comprising: a slide movably coupled within an opening to the housing of the buckle to receive a strap.
 15. The buckle of claim 14, further comprising: a locking member configured and arranged to lock the strap on the slide.
 16. The buckle of claim 15, further comprising: a cam knob rotationally coupled to the buckle housing, the cam knob configured and arranged to manipulate the locking member.
 17. A buckle comprising: a catch having a manipulation end and a lead end opposite the manipulation end, the lead end having a first shoulder and a second shoulder, the first shoulder having a first tooth and the second shoulder having a second tooth; a buckle housing having passage to receive the lead end of the catch; a first pawl rotationally coupled to the buckle housing, the first pawl having a first manipulation portion and a first engaging portion, the first manipulation portion configured and arranged to allow for a manipulation force to rotate the first pawl in relation to the buckle housing, the first engaging portion of the first pawl including a first engaging edge configured and arranged to selectively engage the first shoulder of the lead end of the catch when the lead end of the catch is inserted in the passage of the buckle housing, the first engaging edge of the first pawl including a first notch configured and arranged to receive the first tooth on the first shoulder of the catch; a second pawl rotationally coupled to the buckle housing a spaced distance from the first pawl, the second pawl having a second manipulation portion and a second engaging portion, the second manipulation portion configured and arranged to allow a force to rotate the second pawl in relation to the buckle housing, the second engaging portion of the second pawl including a second engaging edge configured and arranged to selectively engage the second shoulder on the lead end of the catch when the lead end of the catch is inserted in the passage of the buckle housing, the second engaging edge of the second pawl including a second notch configured and arranged to receive a second tooth on the second shoulder of the catch; a first biasing member configured and arranged to exert a first biasing force on the first pawl to engage the first engaging portion of the first pawl on the first shoulder of the catch; and a second biasing member configured and arranged to exert a second biasing force on the second pawl to engage the second engaging portion of the second pawl on the second shoulder of the catch, wherein both first and second manipulation portions of the first and second pawls are simultaneously manipulated to release the first and second engaging portions of the first and second pawls from the first and second shoulders of the catch.
 18. The buckle of claim 10, further comprising: the first pawl having a first biasing slot configured to receive a first end of the first biasing member, the buckle housing forming a second biasing slot configured to receive a second end of the first biasing member; and the second pawl having a third biasing slot configured to receive a first end of the second biasing member, the buckle housing forming a fourth biasing slot configured to receive a second end of the second biasing member.
 19. The buckle of claim 10, wherein the buckle housing includes at least one plate that restricts access to the first and second manipulation portions of the first and second pawls.
 20. The buckle of claim 10, further comprising: a slide movably coupled within an opening to the housing of the buckle to engage a strap; a locking member configured and arranged to lock the strap on the slide; and a cam knob rotationally coupled to the buckle housing, the cam knob configured and arranged to manipulate the locking member. 